Microsoft Learning Experiences is in the process of updating the MCSD: Windows Store Apps exams to reflect the upcoming release of Windows 8.1. We are also creating the recertification exams for these two credentials:
Would you like to have a voice in what we assess on these updated exams as well as the recertification exam? How many questions should we include on these exams to measure each of these skills? Recertification is a big deal, and if you are on the path to earning one of these certifications or have earned one and need recertify, here's your chance to be sure we are measuring the right skills in the right ways to ensure continued competency! We also need your help ensuring that we are assessing the skills initially in the right proportions, too. You can help us by completing any one or more of the online surveys by Thursday, September 19th.
If you develop using HTML5 and JavaScript, please complete these surveys:
481 and 482: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bJEWbxflXNL29ZX
490: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1WVpsheUBQTldGZ
If you develop using C#, please complete these surveys:
484: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2mGk7jQvolzOEBf
485: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_094wKGxWhiFfHdX
491: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_79yu8c9mpqPA501
Your voice matters! Complete one or more of these surveys today to ensure the ongoing validity of your certification!
Note: If you are viewing the survey in Internet Explorer 9, you’ll need to switch to Compatibility Mode for the survey to function properly.
In light of the upcoming releases of Visual Studio 2013 and Windows 8.1, you may be wondering how the updates will affect the corresponding MCSD: Windows Store Apps certifications.
Here are a few things you can count on:
Whether you have started on the path to earning your MCSD certification or are just about to begin, we recommend that you continue moving forward. For developer certifications on Windows 8 application development with Visual Studio 2012, the exams you take now will still count towards your certification.
As the new technology updates become available, you will see a variety of training made available through Microsoft Learning Partner offerings, searchable here. These resources may include First Look clinics, hands-on labs, and courses using Microsoft Official Course content. In addition, many training resources will be available to you directly through Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA). The following MVA courses geared towards exam preparation are available now:
For the latest information on upcoming changes to the certifications and related exams, please review our Visual Studio FAQ.
Imagine the energy of 100 students from around the globe waiting on the edge of their seats to find out if they’ve won a fiercely competitive MOS World Champion title! These motivated students competed against over 344,000 of their peers from 90 countries to make it to the 13th annual championship event in Washington DC this summer. The top six student competitors were recognized at the awards ceremony and presented with a $5,000 scholarship, a gold medal, and a trophy. Here are the exciting results!
(from left to right)
For those of us from Microsoft that attended, it was an amazing opportunity to mingle with and congratulate each of the student competitors. Microsoft made presentations including an in-depth Office 2013 demo by Julia White (Office GM) and Ari Schorr (PM), and the Microsoft education keynote by Lauren Woodman (Partners in Learning GM). The conference also allowed for quality time spent presenting to and meeting with each of the MOS and MTA distributors.
The MOS 2013 Championship event page has highlights of all the results. Check out the photo gallery, too.
Want to be a part of something like this? Do you know some students who should be here? Let’s start thinking now about the 2014 MOS Championship which kicks off October 1! Students interested in participating should check out details in this video:
To read more about the recent event in Washington, D.C., here is a sampling of the videos and articles and press releases you can check out:
First of all, a HUGE thank you to everyone who shared their "test day tips" either by responding to the post: ‘Tried and True Exam Prep – Part 2: Countdown to Test Day’ or allowing us to interview them while they were in Redmond. (If you ever find yourself in Redmond, let us know!!! We'd love to meet you!!!) Psychomagician and Super Sigma could not have cracked the case without your help. Ultimately, your insights about what to do on the day of the test help other exam takers, especially newbies to the world of Microsoft certification.
So, what did we learn? You’re not getting off that easy! You have to do a little investigating on your own by watching the video to find out.
Did you know that Microsoft has a tool to help you know what requirements are necessary to achieve your next certification? This tool is called the Certification Planner and it is found in the MCP Member site.
We recently made some significant improvements to the look and feel of the tool as well as the functionality (example screen shot below). We want to get some feedback on how we did and some thoughts on how we can further improve the tool. We would love for you to try the new Certification Planner and take the survey below (only 8 quick questions - should take about 5-10 minutes maximum). The only requirement we have for you to do this is to have access to the MCP member site, which means that you would have to have taken and passed at least one exam. The survey is open now and will close on October 3rd, so let us know what you think!
MCP Member site: https://mcp.microsoft.com
Survey Link: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cYdOQBy51fqUFbn
Thanks and have a great day!
Second in line to brain dumps as one of the most irritating threats to a secure testing environment are the proxy testers. A proxy tester will try to take the test for someone else, usually by passing fake credentials in order to get into the exam, or somehow procuring a passing result in the name of someone else. Sometimes they simply just sell fake score reports or certificates in one’s name. In fact, proxy testing is almost more egregious than using brain dumps, because the violator isn’t even memorizing answers or looking at the test. Someone who uses a proxy tester can’t even pretend to know the material.
You can imagine how disruptive proxy testing is to the integrity of a certification program. Employers and colleagues need to know that those who hold a Microsoft certification possess the requisite skills. We spend a good deal of time ferreting out and taking action against these organizations that provide proxy testing promises.
This is one reason why our ID policies at exam centers exist, as well as biometrics in some places. The first step to stopping the practice is to cripple the criminal enterprises that provide the services. The next step is to stop it at the test center level. ID checking and biometrics help us identify those who try to take the same test multiple times under several personas.
Unfortunately, some of these proxy testing companies are as sneaky as brain dump providers when it comes to “looking legit” to the casual browser wishing to find study material. The primary warning sign of a proxy testing website or organization is any guarantee that you will pass the exam without having to take it. Look for promises like “Guaranteed pass!” and “Pass without exam.” Proxy testing sites indicate that they will provide a full credential if you send them your credit card information. A candidate should be very wary of such promises.
Engaging in proxy testing as either the test taker or the person who hired the test taker is a form of misconduct and fraud. If a candidate engages in proxy testing, that candidate will be permanently banned or prohibited from taking any future Microsoft Certification exams and may be decertified from the Microsoft Certification Program. Additionally, test scores and certifications, if applicable, may be revoked. These actions may be taken even if the candidate did not intend to defraud the Microsoft Certification Program.
If you believe that a website or company provides proxy test-taking services, please inform Microsoft immediately by sending an email message to [email protected].
Got a tip for me? Let me know at [email protected].
Thinking about starting or upgrading your Microsoft certification? Still undecided about scheduling that exam? It’s no secret that it takes time, preparation, and commitment to pass all the required exams to achieve a certification milestone, and we want to help you. That's why we're so excited to bring back Second Shot!
For those who are newer to our community: the return of Second Shot is great news for MCPs (and aspiring ones) because it means being able to retake an exam for free. Just knowing there's a chance to do-over at no cost can make a big difference on exam day.
This round of Second Shot applies to individual technical (070 and 071 beta) and commercial MTA (098) exams. Here are two ways to get your Second Shot voucher:
Both the initial exam and the retake have to be done no later than May 31, 2014, so find your certification path and get started soon!
Name: Sidney AndrewsMC ID: 8958741Location: Virginia, USATwitter: @sidney_andrewsBlog: seesharprun.net
A couple of years ago, I was on top of the world. I ran my own XAML consultancy and was doing very well using online marketplaces to sell my skills. Wanting to spend more time with my son, who was two at the time, my wife and I agreed that a sane schedule would be better all around, so I found a job as a .NET consultant for a great company in my hometown. I felt like a rock star again. My boss thought I did great work, and the company really valued me. At 25, I knew a lot in the .NET world, but had not felt the need to prove it in the past.
Hearing about Microsoft Certifications for the first time, my company used them as a seal of quality to show customers that we really knew our stuff. My boss suggested that I take an exam in a topic area where I knew I was absolutely solid. I challenged myself to pass one exam every month until I felt I had done enough.
In February, I took the Silverlight MCTS exam and blew it out of the water. I was so excited and I thought to myself, “This will be easy,” since I hadn’t studied for it at all. Wow, was I wrong! So I started studying for the Data Access MCTS exam. I wasn’t sure if I would do well considering that I used mostly RESTful web services and only had a general understanding of Entity Framework. I ended up taking the exam twice and failing. I was getting frustrated, but my boss reminded me that I was gaining a lot of knowledge from trying and that my studying was not a waste of time. To boost my confidence, I took the WPF/Windows Forms MCTS exam and did very well. Right after that I gave the Data Access exam another shot and passed in April.
I had a lot of small victories, but I truly wanted a terminal certification. In May, I took the WCF MCTS exam and did very well on it. This gave me enough confidence to pass the Windows Azure Pro exam at TechEd and to earn the MCPD: Windows Azure Developer certification. After I got home, I decided that I wasn’t done. In July, after 2 attempts, I passed the Windows Pro exam and earned my MCPD: Windows Developer certification. In August, I passed the Web Pro exam to earn both the MCPD: Silverlight Developer and the MCPD: Web Developer certifications.
It was at this point that I felt like I needed to take a big step. I spoke at a lot of community events and had a bit of post-secondary classroom experience, so I decided to pursue becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer and get back to my education roots. Working at a top-tier company allowed me to bring real-world experience to the table when teaching a Microsoft course. With my combined certification record and classroom teaching history, in accordance with the program policies, I applied and was accepted as an MCT in September of 2012. The following holiday season, I taught my first two Microsoft courses and became a charter member for MCSD: Web Applications.
Earning my Microsoft certifications and becoming an MCT has drastically altered the trajectory of my career. Before, I was content to do my job. Now I teach, speak, architect and implement. I went from being a .NET developer in my hometown to being recognized as someone who’s accomplished “big things.” If none of these benefits resonate with you, the best benefit is that I have the longest e-mail signature at my company. My next goal is to amplify my efforts to share with my community and begin to travel to distant user groups more often during the year. I also would like to earn an MCSD: SharePoint Applications certification in 2013 since I’ve been spending a lot of time building SharePoint and LightSwitch apps.
Sidney’s Tips:
With the launch of the new project-based exam experience for MOS 2013, candidates need to complete a short project during the allotted exam time. During development of the MOS 2013 Expert certification exams, it became clear the objectives would require more time than provided in the standard 50 minute testing period to complete. Further, during exam design phase, it became clear two different types of projects would be needed in Word or Excel to cover objectives in a realistic setting.
Considering all of these factors, we are here to announce the MOS 2013 Word and Excel Expert certifications will require passing two exams. Word Expert certification requires passing exams 77-425 and 77-426, while Excel Expert certification requires passing exams 77-427 and 77-428. These part one and two exams are 50 minutes in length each, and are both required to achieve the Expert certification. Details about each of these exams can be found on the MOS Expert overview page.
Related resources:
Imagine that Psychomagician and Super Sigma had the power to get your questions answered about how the upcoming releases of Windows Server, Windows client, and System Center will affect certification and courseware. What if they could get the answers straight from the person making the decisions about how to approach these changes and incorporate them into the associated exams and training materials? What questions would you ask? What would you want to know?
Imagine such a world... and behold, Psychomagician has the magic to make it so!
Your questions will be the basis of an upcoming episode of ACE Chronicles where Psychomagician and Super Sigma will get the answers “straight from the horse’s mouth.” Don't be shy! Ask, ask, ask, and stay tuned for your answers!
Let us know what questions you have about how these releases will be incorporated into the associated exams, certifications, and courseware by September 9!
A few months ago, we proposed a new item type--progressive case studies--to the community and asked for your feedback. We created a video describing this new item type and asked you for feedback via a brief survey, and the results are in!
As a reminder, progressive case study is a variation of the case study item type in which the case builds progressively. More resources are introduced to candidates as they answer questions. The progressive case study scenarios will include information in a format that reflects how candidates might receive it on the job. For example, the case may include emails, graphics, exhibits, and documents that candidates need to review and synthesize in order to answer questions.
So, what did you think? Highlights include:
Several respondents also expressed some concerns that:
Given the generally positive feedback on this item type, we expect to pilot test it sometime in 2014. Thanks to everyone who provided their feedback!
Yes, we take cheating seriously.
You’ve seen me talk about brain dumps and appropriate test center behavior. (We'll discuss proxy testers in my September blog post.) It is an unfortunate facet of the exam business that some people will try to find ways to cheat on an exam, or engage in other fraudulent activity that gets them a certification, without earning it. Because we want everyone to have a fair testing experience, we take fraud in test-taking very seriously. Seriously enough to ban cheaters from our program all together.
This approach may seem Draconian, but to those who study and prepare legitimately for their exams, it probably seems fair. I mentioned once how a good number of ITCC Survey respondents told us that cheaters should be dealt with harshly. A cheater undermines the hard work a candidate has put into their test preparation. We work with our exam delivery providers to provide a secure environment that makes cheating difficult, and employ a variety of methods for catching fraud outside of a test center. We monitor diligently and constantly evaluate our security policies and procedures to stay one step ahead of the bad elements.
All candidates are required to accept the exam policies before they test, which outlines behavior we consider in violation of that agreement, and the possible consequences. The full policy, including an appeals process, can be found on our exam policies page: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-exam-policies.aspx
For these reasons, when we catch and verify an incident of fraud or cheating, we don’t tolerate it. The cheater is banned from registering for any Microsoft exams, now or ever. We may also take away their certifications. It’s a pretty harsh way of dealing with nefarious test-takers, but we think our hard-working MCPs appreciate it.
Hi Born To Learn community! I’m the Product Manager for the Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification. I look forward to connecting with you through this blog to share noteworthy information regarding MTA. In this first post, I’d like to tell you about how we keep MTA exams relevant in a world where technology constantly changes.
As the MTA Product Manager, I’m often asked if MTA exams validate current technology concepts even if the exams reference older versions of the technology. The answer is “Yes!”
MTA exams are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are relevant in today’s environment, regardless of the technology version that’s new in the market. All Microsoft certification exams are reviewed regularly for relevance, technical accuracy, and psychometric soundness. MTA exams are no different.
Remember--MTA exams test users on fundamental technology concepts that span multiple technology versions. Even if the Windows Server and Database exams reference 2008 versions in the questions, the concepts being tested are still relevant in newer versions (e.g., 2012). We will update the versions referenced in the exams over time as we conduct our ongoing reviews.
Sometimes we find references that are outdated or no longer relevant. In those cases, we may remove the question, remove the reference to the outdated technology in the question, or rewrite the question. For example, the MTA Gaming Development exam currently references XNA technology. With the gaming industry moving away from XNA, the MTA gaming exam is being revised to reflect more current technology.
Whether you are the person taking the exam or whether you’re an instructor, you can be confident that we’re watching MTA exams carefully to ensure they are relevant and current.
Last month I talked about a survey that the IT Certifications Council, an industry group in which I participate, conducted on “Attitudes Around Cheating.” We got more than 1000 verbatim responses to our question: “What other methods do you suggest to combat cheating?” After pouring through them, I got a good sense of what candidates feel helps thwart fraud in the testing environment. I’m very grateful to have had access to all this insight.
A lot of answers indicated that respondents didn’t know cheating was a problem, or even possible. Some thought current measures did a good job of preventing cheating already. More than one answer expressed surprise that anyone would even think of cheating. All good news, and I’m glad to hear that.
The overwhelming sentiment was that fraud and cheating prevention starts in the testing center. I’ve talked before about what to expect in an exam environment , and it sounds like the majority of our test-takers expect the same. Cameras focused on the test takers came up as a suggestion quite frequently. That seems to be a practice that most find to be an acceptable part of the test-taking experience.
The next biggest theme was design of the tests themselves to make cheating harder. I won’t get into specifics here, but clearly some of our candidates are quite savvy when it comes to knowing how to prevent stealing of test answers via the test itself. The thieves, unfortunately, are also quite savvy, which is why I won’t delve into test-design specifics. But the suggestion that true prevention is to prevent it from the beginning is right on track, and one of my bigger focuses.
Personal integrity was mentioned a few times. The notion is that cheating will never cease and that people need to change attitudes about how they earn a certification. The industry could help with more education, policy enforcement, and making it harder to cheat. A few suggestions stemmed around improving the quality of training as a deterrent for cheating. All stimulating suggestions as well.
Of course, internet fraud (brain dumps and proxy testers) played a part in the answers. Let me dispel one myth that surfaced a few times in these answers: the testing companies do NOT voluntarily make answers available to brain dumps. That’s what makes them a violation in the first place. They have stolen our intellectual property, and they are absolutely on everyone’s radar as contributors to the problem of cheating.
There were some creative responses too about costs of exams, availability of training, timing of exams, punishments such as public shaming (and other…interesting…suggestions for cheaters I won’t mention in polite company), and the recommendation that more pie might help curb the cheating.
Lemon meringue or apple?
Name: Jean-Paul van RavensbergMC ID: 9784598Location: the NetherlandsTwitter: @JPvR_NLBlog: www.jpvr.nl
I began my Microsoft certification journey recently to demonstrate my abilities to the IT industry. I came in contact with a Microsoft Trainer at school who told me about the benefits of certification. It inspired me greatly to get certified before starting my career after finishing school. I didn't felt I had reached the level I needed during school, and it felt like I can do a lot more. I set a couple of certification goals this year:
Step by step, I studied every day for a couple of hours. Next, I had to choose between the 70-410/411/412 exams or the upgrade exam, 70-417. I knew I had little knowledge of Windows Server, but was driven to achieve it. During 90 Days to MCSA, I started studying the book, "Exam Ref 70-417: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012." Having read this, I realized I hadn't learned as much as I could because I lacked experience with Server 2008 or Server 2012; and, of course, they expect knowledge about it in the book.
So, I continued with the TrainSignal videos. It has helped so much to access all the 410/411 and 412 training videos online. Learning from videos, I found, works best for me. I've watched all the videos and imitated the scenarios in my lab. It makes you feel confident working in the Windows Server environment. My lab consists of:
Besides school, I have been self-employed from the age of 17. I build websites for individuals and businesses and manage a number of SMB (Small and Medium businesses) networks.
I am hoping to complete my exam goals before the 60Days2MCSE starts! In the future I hope to work for a great company as a network administrator, with a large number of servers in my control.
My three tips:
An ambitious IT pro asked us on Twitter: "Which exam would you recommend for someone moving over from Comptia A+ and Net+?" MCT Ed Baker responds with the key differences between CompTIA and Microsoft certifications, and charts a roadmap for a smooth transition to MCSA and MSCE certifications. If you'd like to connect with Ed for more advice, please leave a comment or check out his Born to Learn profile.
The world of IT certification is a minefield of disinformation and confusion when it comes to where to start and what path to take. There are many good reasons to choose one way or another. It would take many more than my allotted space to do justice to the subject but here goes!
CompTIA provide a series of vendor neutral examinations based primarily on technology rather than a specific product. As an example, the often ignored Server+ deals with Linux and Windows Servers and the technologies supporting both platforms. All vendors provide examinations based on one or more of their products which may or may not include generic technology topics as well.
CompTIA A+ is a traditional starting point for many to launch an IT career and it follows that they then continue on the CompTIA path. CompTIA is a not for profit organisation with members including Cisco, Dell and Microsoft all focussed on raising the skill levels of IT industry employees.
Most of Microsoft’s certification tests are based on one or more of their products specifically and are aimed at a number of levels of skill.
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
The Microsoft Technology Associate programme (MTA) is aimed at college students and entry level IT industry employees. Originally only available to students, it is now available in the commercial market through Prometric test centres. The tests are typically 45 minutes long and contain around 35 questions. Predominantly multiple choice and fairly short in content. This is an excellent way for a non-IT employee to break into the Microsoft Certified Professional arena. There are currently twelve certifications that include, Networking, Security, Servers, Operating Systems, Databases, and software development in various flavours. These are the only Microsoft tests that are not solely product-based. More detail about the MTA programme and available examinations can be found here.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
The next level is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) This certification typically requires two or three examinations and is available for a specific product, for example the MCSA Windows Server 2012 requires three and the MCSA Windows 8 requires two. Currently there are three product areas Server, Client and SQL server. There is not enough space to list them all and their merits but the programme details can be found here. Examinations at this level can contain a wide variety of different question types and can vary from 90 minutes to well over 3 hours long in some cases. Some discussion and demonstrations of question types can be found here--look for Exam Formats and question types.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
At the top of the tree for the mere mortal IT Pro is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE). This certification has a prerequisite of MCSA in a product area and then a couple of additional examinations. These certifications are not single product based but can examine a whole area of technology, but always using Microsoft products. There are no Product titles or version numbers in these qualifications. The other major difference is that to maintain this certification you are required to take an examination every three years to re-certify. The MCSE Programme details are here. There are currently eight MCSE certifications in specific industry areas such as Communications, Messaging or Server Infrastructure and each relates to a series of product solutions within the Microsoft portfolio.
So that is the Microsoft certification portfolio, almost; there are some developer specific certifications which can be found here. The Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) programme is definitely the one to take if you are interested in a career in software development and is on a par with the MCSE programme for certification level.
So if John is not a developer, where should he start?
Without knowing if John is already in an IT role, it is difficult to make such decisions on his behalf, but his exam history does help a little to determine what his proven skills are.
Having taken the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certifications which include three long detailed tests, I would recommend that John goes straight for the relevant MCSA for his technology specialism. Let’s assume that John has experience with Windows Servers and wants to become a Server administrator or equivalent. The exams he needs to take are the 70-410, 70-411 and 70-412 (details here) these are for the Windows Server 2012 track which is, in my opinion the one he should start on. The most recent relevant certification is often the one an employer is looking for.
Born to Learn is full of exam tips and tricks and I recommend that John concentrate hard on both exam technique and study. There are a great many differences between the exams in CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. When I teach CompTIA topics I am often heard explaining that there is nothing difficult to learn in this, but there is an awful lot to learn. The exam requires a very good level of memory recall. There are no long questions or answers it is simply multiple choice and the recently added simulation questions. For example the difference between processor types and sockets requires a lot of learning.
Microsoft examinations are a whole new level of test and the item types again (detail here) are completely different. They often require a lot of reading and assimilation of information to provide the solution. For this reason there are far fewer questions in each test and the answers often require a long time to think about so the tests are longer too.
Whichever you decide, good luck and if you need any help choosing the community of some 20,000 Microsoft Certified trainers (MCT) will always be happy to offer helpful advice and guidance on a route through this minefield.
Click to download the certification roadmap poster (PDF)
About the Author:
Ed Baker is an MCT, MCSE, MCSA and holds CompTIA A+, Net+, Server+, Security+ and many other certifications. Ed teaches in Microsoft IT academies and at commercial learning partners. Ed is a 20 year veteran of the IT industry and in his spare time he raises money for good causes through Freemasonry and marathon running.
For those who are familiar with the popular Self-Paced Training Kits from Microsoft Press, you may have heard that they are being replaced by two new series called Training Guides and Exam Refs. I had previously written a number of Training Kits with the aim of doing an all-in-one book. Training Kits were designed to included theory, practice tests, and had some hands-on labs that you could work through in your own home lab.
The new Training Guides and Exam Refs are different. In a way, they split the Training Kits down the middle. The Exam Refs, as the name implies, are more squarely focused on the specific exam and are something that you’d probably use in the latter part of your study as a revision aid. The Training Guides are aimed more at the job role tasks to which a specific certification is meant to map. In this post, I will share with you some of my thought process when writing the newly published Training Guide: Administering Windows Server 2012.
For an experienced system administrator with working knowledge of Windows Server 2012, the objectives of exam 70-411 theoretically map to your areas of knowledge. Of course, everyone’s job is different, so there will be some exam objectives that may not be relevant to your current role. Training Guides break down the exam objectives as they apply in the job role and contain real world advice along the way, as opposed to strictly interpreting the exam objectives through the lens of a test taker.
When I put together a Training Guide, I am assuming that the reader meets the exam prerequisites. This means that I assume you aren’t coming into the topic fresh. You might not know all the ins and outs of certificate services, for example, but I don’t have to spend a couple of pages explaining what a certificate server is and why you might want to deploy one in your environment.
Another key thing you should understand is that the Training Guide provides an overview of the technologies covered in the exam’s objective domain. Where possible, I provide a link to the source documentation so that you can go deeper on particular topics if you want or need to.
Training Guides (at least the one I’ve written) also have a strong practical component, and this may be one of the biggest things you get out of reading one. Each person learns a little differently, but most systems administrators learn well by doing. Performing a task in your own lab will probably give you a better handle on it than reading about it or answering an exam question.
One thing I tried to do with this Training Guide is to write a practical exercise that touches on all of the little points that make up an objective. From a self-study perspective, this has the following benefits:
Although Training Guides will assist you in preparing for the exam, it is not a complete exam preparation solution. This is a really important point. If you are preparing for the exam, you should use additional study materials, such as practice tests, Exam Refs, and forums such as the study groups here on Born to Learn.
It’s also important that you have real world experience. That means that you should have actually done the stuff listed on the objectives where possible, not just read about it in a book. You’re much less likely to pass an exam on Administrating Windows Server 2012 if you’ve never managed a server in a production environment.
Finally – though we do our best, errors do creep into the best texts. When thousands of eyes read over a text they find things that the author, editor, tech editor, and proofreader miss. If you buy the books through O’Reilly, they have an excellent errata system that allows us to insert corrections into each reprint.
Good luck on your exam!
As you may have already heard, the next versions of Windows, Windows Server, and System Center have been announced! (See Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and System Center 2012 R2.) In light of these exciting product announcements, you may be wondering how the updates will affect the corresponding certifications.
The impact of each product update to its certification may vary. We encourage you to check the certification you are interested in obtaining for more details via http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification-overview.aspx.
Whether you have started on the path to earning your certification or are just about to begin, we recommend that you continue moving forward. For Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 and System Center 2012 certifications, the exams you take now will still count towards your certification.
Speaking of training, Jump Start courses for Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2 are now available!
Read our FAQs to find out more:
I hope everyone that came to TechEd North America had a great time and took the opportunity to come and visit us at our booth. I talked with a number of you on how we could provide a better means to support you in your career as an IT Professional, Developer, Partner and Trainer. One thing that came up in many of our discussions is the retirement of certifications and how we could be doing a better job at communicating certification retirements. Our Certifications Product Management team, is committed to providing you this information on a regular basis. Leave us a comment to help us improve how we communicate this information in the future. What format you would like to see? What is the best communications channel (Born to Learn blog, email, social media, etc.) to distribute this information to you? Your input is greatly appreciated.
This blog post will provide our Microsoft Dynamics Partners, Microsoft Learning Partners, Microsoft Certified Trainers and Microsoft Certified Professional an update on retiring Microsoft Dynamics certifications.
Earlier this year, we updated a number of Microsoft Learning website pages to drive awareness that the following Microsoft Dynamics certifications that will be retired on July 8, 2013:
This is our first wave of Microsoft Dynamics certification retirements. We plan to retire all Microsoft Dynamics MCTS and MCITP certifications by December 31, 2014. We will announce the next wave of Microsoft Dynamics certification retirements later this summer. New Microsoft Dynamics certifications will be announced over the coming 18 months.
For individuals who have earned one or more of these retired certifications, they will continue to appear on their transcripts under Legacy status.
Related Resources:
Retired Exams
Retired Certifications
You already know I'm a proponent of IT certification. I knew of certifications well before I started working at Microsoft, and have always held high regard for those who devote the time and energy to earn their credentials. It's not the acronyms in their email signatures that impress me; it's their dedication to learning and growth.
When MCT Chris Gardner published his recent blog post titled "The Real Reason Why Developers Should Get Certified," responses from our readers, fans and followers around the social web were overwhelmingly positive. Chris, who develops web apps by day and advocates for game development by speaking and blogging, knows first hand the value of certification for business, professional and personal endeavors. (I would encourage you to read his post for more context if you haven't already.) One especially thoughtful comment came from Lisa F. via our Facebook page. She said:
"Technology and software are constantly changing. The best way I've found to keep sharp in this field is to keep certifying. The practice of preparing for my next exam keeps me trying things that I haven't done yet, just because I haven't had to in my position, and it forces me to keep myself current with the new technologies. It makes me better at my job and helps me to communicate possible technological needs and improvements for the customer."
Lisa's words very much align with what I've heard from many IT pros, developers, consultants and trainers. Much of the process of studying for certification exams is about learning and self assessment. The list of "skills measured" for each Microsoft exam, also known as exam objective domains, is essentially a checklist for yourself: "How much of this technology do I really know?" During a recent tweetchat about "90 Days to MCSA," MCT Michael Bender also talked about this: "#90days2MCSA is about motivating you to learn the technology. Earning your MCSA is a big plus!"
So, if earning certifications is really about honing your skills and staying current, can you afford to put it off? Sure, it's just one element of your curriculum vitae, but it's one where you can readily show proof of your technical proficiency and demonstrate your commitment to professional development. Yes, work hours are long, and obligations of everyday life are many, but consider prioritizing this investment in yourself. If your current employer supports training and certification, that's definitely a plus. Talk to your manager or human resources department today about available benefits. If it's not something the company offers, there's no stopping you from doing this for yourself. There are many resources available to you, often low or no cost, and so many people who can help. (See the list at the end of this post.) In the end, the knowledge and achievement are yours to gain, keep and use.
MCT and PFE Cynthia Wang (@CyntheSys) said it best in a tweet. It's not really about certification; it's about YOU.
Throughout my IT career, I’ve taken dozens of exams, and I’ve been fortunate to have experienced exam failures only three times. But it was the first failure that stuck with me, and the first one that was the biggest learning lesson for me.
I remember it vividly. It was the NT 4.0 Workstation exam, the first Microsoft exam I had ever taken. I had already taken (and passed) a Netware exam. But at the time, Netware and Microsoft were competing for the hearts and minds of network administrators everywhere, and I knew I needed to know both if I was going to be successful in my career.
But there it was. A failing score displayed on screen in front of me, and a failing score printed on the report in my hand. I was absolutely devastated.
But, to quote Real Genius, “But these little setbacks are sometimes just what we need to take a giant step forward. Which I did.”
The first thing I learned was: in the grand scheme of things, nothing truly bad had happened. The absolute worst thing that could happen when taking an exam had happened, but life still went on. Nobody came along to beat me with a stick. My dog still loved me. My wife didn’t leave me. And the sun still rose from the east. Did it feel bad? Sure. Nobody likes to fail. And I had the chance to take the exam again.
--> Lesson: The world won’t come to an end if you fail an exam.
During the exam, I realized how underprepared I was. I saw questions on products and services I had never heard of. I was pretty sure half the exam was in some exotic language stolen from the set of Star Wars. After walking out of the exam center, I knew there was more I had to learn. If only I knew roughly what was going to be on the exam in the first place.
As it turns out, Microsoft Learning offers plenty of information on the topics that will be covered in the exam. Every exam has an information page which covers, among other things, what skills will be measured on the exam and rough percentages for each topic. This helps focus your studying. If you see it on the skills measured section of the exam details page, make sure you study it. If only someone had told me about this the week before I was scheduled to take that exam, I would have been better prepared.
A quick visit to www.microsoft.com/learning will provide you with an amazing amount of information. And now there’s more information than there ever was in the past, including message boards and a lot of “behind the scenes” information about MSL.
--> Lesson: Read the skills measured section and make sure you’re truly ready.
Like many people who are taking certification exams, it had been quite a while since I had left a formal learning institution, and thus it had been quite a while since I’d taken a test of any variety. As it turns out, test taking is a skill. And like any skill, if it dulls if it’s not practiced.
I’d forgotten all the basics:
A certification exam is exactly that: an exam. Taking an exam is a skill and there are techniques involved.
--> Lesson: Review test taking techniques before entering the exam room.
It’s said that different people learn things differently. Some people can go off and read a book and be able to easily assimilate information that way. Others can take a class, listen to an instructor, see some demos and gain knowledge that way. For me, a combination of the two works best. I need a book and I sometimes need someone I can bounce questions off of.
But above all, what I truly need is to actually do it myself. I need to implement the product, write the code, fight with the bugs, change settings and see what actually happens. That’s when it clicks for me. And, as an added bonus, I often find that problems I have with a product make their way on to the exam as questions. If I had a nickel for every time I saw a question and said to myself, “Hey! I just ran into that last week!” I’d be able to buy myself and my wife a very nice dinner.
--> Lesson: Find out what mode(s) of learning works best for you.
Since that day I’ve gone on to take over 50 more exams, and I’ve been lucky enough to have only failed twice. I credit a lot of my success to the lessons I learned back on that May afternoon in 1997. If only someone had sat me down that April and said, “Hey, Christopher...” I might have passed that exam on the first try.
Hopefully you’ll be able to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them.
Good luck on your next exam!
Related resource: Microsoft Certification Study Groups
Connect with MCT Christopher Harrison on Twitter: @geektrainer
First of all, a HUGE thank you to everyone who replied to the post: ‘Tried and True Exam Prep – Part 1: Practice, Practice, Practice.’ Psychomagician and Super Sigma could not have cracked the case without your help. Ultimately, your insights about how to prepare for an exam help the community, especially newbies to the world of Microsoft certification.
We’d like to announce Psychomagician’s #1 (psycho) fan! He was a key contributor to the investigation into exam preparation. A very special thank you goes out to Michael Corkery. THANK YOU MICHAEL! An official ACE Chronicles Fan Club t-shirt is coming your way! Want to know more about the ACE Chronicles Fan Club and how to join? Stay tuned! We're working out the details, but it's going to be legend...wait for it... dairy!
Okay, time to get back on track here. SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT EXAM PREPARATION? You’re not getting off that easy! You have to do a little investigating on your own by watching the video to find out!
In my role as a MCT Regional Lead, I get asked a lot of questions. One of the rapidly recurring questions is "I'm a developer. Why should I get certified?" Most people expect me to respond with something about job security or income increases. However, this is not the typical answer I offer. The real reason you should get certified is to learn your framework.
The .NET framework has been in a state of rapid (r)evolution in recent years. More companies, including Microsoft, are moving to a rapid release schedule. As developers, we have a tendency to start a project with a given framework and a given set of tools. We use these frameworks and tools for months, even years, as the technological world marches forward. I started a project in the later parts of .NET 2.0. By the time the project ended, .NET 4.0 had been released. After 2 years on a project, I might as well have changed my name to Rip Van Winkle.
When a developer stays on top of his or her certifications, he or she keeps a mental inventory of tools that have become available. As developers, we are often not able to keep on top of every advancement in our field. However, the certification tests do two things. First, it proves to your employer or contracting official at you have knowledge of the current trends. I may not have written a Windows Store App that needed Semantic Zoom, but I now have proof that I am familiar with it.
Second, and more importantly, it gives you the tools to quickly merge into new areas. I have often joked that 2% of my brain lives in my head. That 2% is the index terms into the other 98% of my brain, which lives on the web. For example, I was recently working on a side project that required me to access a third-party RESTful service. All of my professional work has used WCF. Since I have stayed current on my certifications, I had an academic knowledge of what I needed to do. Using this knowledge, I was able to effectively find the information I needed to consume this service in a matter of minutes.
There are very few ways to quickly prove to yourself that you really have touched the breadth of knowledge in a specific area. Certification are a way to not only guide you through the roots of emerging technologies, they offer you a way to measure your understanding of these new technologies. As a professional that lives or dies by my ability to stay current, I find great value in spending a little time, money and effort keeping my certifications current. While it does benefit my professional endeavors, the satisfaction I get knowing I'm prepared for any challenge that may come with my next project is priceless.
Related resource: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) exam prep page
Connect with Chris on Twitter @freestylecoder.
A few months ago the IT Certifications Council, an industry group in which I participate, conducted a survey on “Attitudes Around Cheating.” This was not a Microsoft-specific survey, so the respondents were those who had taken all sorts of IT Certification exams. We got a pretty good response to our 15-question survey; the most surprising outcome was the sheer number of verbatim responses we got to some questions. Clearly our certification candidates across the board feel security is a vital part of a testing program. As a group, we will use these answers to help improve and strengthen our respective security programs.
Some of the positive outcomes that interested me most:
Among the answers that surprised us:
Let me clarify what we mean by “discussing an exam,” because I think the question, the way it had been worded, might have been confusing. I’ve said before that it’s one thing to study together before the exam; this is fine. It’s another to tell someone what’s actually on the exam. That is where candidates get into trouble. It’s the divulging of confidential exam information that is a violation, not group study. That’s one of the reasons we prohibit instructors from proctoring exams.
Last, we got more than 1000 verbatim responses to our question: “What other methods do you suggest to combat cheating?” I find that so encouraging that people have an interest in this. I will be pouring through all the responses for inspiration.
Not everyone who comes to TechEd is super-technical. Rob is a project manager for IT projects and was at TechEd to learn more about ALM and what's new and coming soon for Microsoft's application platform. He decided to take the MTA exam for Operating System fundamentals to begin using certification to establish his technical credibility even though he's not a developer. Are you a project manager who needs some credibility with your developers? Maybe MTA is for you too.